How to Preach at a Funeral for Someone You Suspect Died Unsaved
By Mike Smalley

1. Start in the natural realm and swing to the spiritual.

2. Say something positive about the person who has died—either personally, or their marriage, kids, work ethic, their generation, etc. This should build rapport with the audience. Use a humorous story that relates to the above.

3. Don’t feel pressured to mention where the deceased may have gone after death (God is the only One who truly knows).

4. Never insinuate that he went to heaven.

5. Use this as a springboard: "Good friends often remind us of things that we don’t want to deal with, but that are very important. Bob, today, reminds us that we all must die."

6. Use anecdotes that convey eternal truths.

7. Go quickly but thoroughly through each of the Ten Commandments.

8. Warn briefly about sin, death, judgment, and eternity.

9. Give a clear gospel presentation.

10. Appeal to the audience to repent today. "When anyone dies, I ask myself, ‘Was I faithful?’ Did I speak all the truth? And did I speak it from my very soul every time I preached?"-Charles Spurgeon